Automobile parking apparatus



Nov. 1, 1932. w. J. AITKEN AUTOMO BILE PARKING APPARATUS Original Filed July 19, 1929 1Q Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: w'illiam J A1 tken,

ATTORNEY 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. J. AITKEN JIIIII I I L AUTOMOBILE PARKING APPARATUS Original Filed Jilly 19, 1929 Nov. 1, 1932.-

|NVENTO R 1am JAJtken, BY A ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1932. w. J. AITKEN 1,885,213

AUTOMOBILE PARKING APPARATUS Original Filed July 19, 1929 1Q Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill.

ATTORN EY Nov. 1, 1932. w. J. AITKEN AUTOMOBILE PARKING APPARATUS Original Filed July 19, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 v INVENTOR 4 William I Aztken,

' ATTORNEY W. J. AITKEN AUTOMOBILE PARKING APPARATUS 1Q Sheets-Sheet 7 Nov. 1, 1932.

Original FiledJul y 19, 1929 INVENTOR William J Aitken Nov. 1, 1932. w. J. AITKEN' AUTOMOBILE PARKING APPARATUS Original Filed July 19, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATORNEY Nov. 1, 1932. w, J. rr E 1,885,213

AUTOMOBILE PARKING APPARATUS INVENTOR W111i am ,f. Aft-ken A ,TOR NE' Nov. 1, 1932. w. J. AITKEN AUTOMOBILE PARKING APPARATUS Sheets-Sheet 11o Original Filed July 19, 1929 //W/II INVENTOR W1111 am ,I- A1 tken,

ATTQRNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1932 "UNITED. STATES? WILLIAM J. AI'rKEN', OF CHICAGO, rnnmois, AssIGNoR, is: "AssIGN nn'rs, To

NATIONAL PARKING .GARAGES, rnobnronarnn, .A c'o PonArIoN .o'n DELAWARE i AUTOMOBQQE. A ne APPARATUS Original application filed July 19, 1929, Serial naevasos, nowratent mjisoana'datea m y 5,-1931.

This application is filed'as a division of my application, Serial No. 379,509, filed July objections to. the usual parking of cars 1n garages and other buildings, islargely if not entirely overcome by the use of the pres- I 1 3 one side of the parking device and the parker ent invention. The main object of the present inventlon is .to overcome the objections of manually handling automobiles either by their owners or attendants, when placing them in garages, a To do this requires an efficient apparatus which will have an ability to engage one or a plurality of automobiles and move? them onto and ofi' from elevators, to be; delivered to any desired space of a multi floor building. p

This 'entirelydoes away with ramps and gives a greaterstorage space per area'of building than is possible with ramps.

It is a further object of' the invention to provide a parking devicehaving its own motor i be directly exerted; and translated through 'a proper intermepower, which power may diate driving mechanism to rotate the wheels of an automobile in either direction. This permits rolling the automobile backward or forward on its own tires.

The arrangementis such that the automobile provides traction for the parking device and the parking device imparts a direct thrust or pushing movement to the automono time is lost in raising or lowering the cars and it is, therefore, highly important that the automobiles be automatically moved onto and off from the elevators with the greatest facility and at a minimum interval of time;

It is, therefore, the object of the invention to obtain the above indicated results.

It is also an object to provide great elas Divided and this application filed September 25,1930, No. 48 4,273. a

ticityofiactionin the operation of the park-f ng devicefi To this-end, the parking device 1s designed so'that it does 'not, of necessity,

have to engage sometparticular part'offzthe under gear, axles or'housings of thejautog pbile, but engages the'tires ofthe automo- The engaging arrangements are such that Q a tire on the automobile may be engaged at then movedwith-itsloadto engage the wheel 7 of a second automobile, on the opposite side 7 of the parker, so. that both may. .be'moved slmultaneously on :toan'd ofifrom a lifting apparatus or along the parking'spaces. of the garage.

There is a very: advantageous result attained, resulting in a'further object ofim provement,*namely, that of moving the automobiles by transmitting powerto'thewheels,

thus relieving all strain on the automobileparts. I; i

There-is n'o lifting pressure exerted on the front or rear axle parts, as is'the case Where a bile to engage it. This brings about an obparker'is compelled to run-under the automoject of great importance. The parkin'g'desvice never runs below the car and therefore never becomessoiled-from the drip of water, oil and mud from the car. -1

. It operates at the side of the automobile and engages the wheels or tires thereoffi As a result, there is no height limit in the building of the parker, as no 'clearanceshave to be figured for running under the automobile;

- The parking device will adjust itself, for

the moving of cars oflong or shortl wheel base and large or small tires and it is, there fore, universal in its application.

Other ob'ects of the invention Wlll be ap parent as they are further pointed out in'the specifications and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a typlcal 'groundfloor plan illustrating the operation of the parker, and showing the entrance and exit for automobiles.

Fig. 2 is a typical floor plan of one of the upper; floors of a garage illustrating the- 1 operation of the parker and thefemplacement of automobiles. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic sectional View through a number of the upper floors on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pa'rker device with parts broken away and without the control mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation on the line 5,5

ofFigure 4:, with the addition of the controlling mechanism. v

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in side elevation showing the method of controlling the power transmitting rolls.

Fig. is a detailed sectional view of the motor support.

Fig. 8 is a plan view without the motor and gearing, showing one set' of power trans-- mitting rolls project-ed in position to act upon the tire. The second set of transmitting rolls is in normal inactive position.

Fig. 9' is an end elevation of the parking device shown in Figure 5, with one power transmitting roll extended.

Figure 10' is an enlarged detail, partially broken in section, of the fork and appurtenant parts for moving the transmitting rolls.

Figure 1.1 is a similar view in side elevation.

Figure 12 is a detail of the central support for the shaft of the transmitting rolls.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the part, shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14; isa cross sectional View on the line I ls-1 10f Figure 8.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the driving elements of the arker in engagement with an automobile wheel and driving it in one direction.

Figure 16 is a similar view showing the drive in the. opposite direction.

Figure 17 is an enlarged sectional'view on the line 17-17 of Figure 4, showing the gear transmission from the motor shaft to the driving wheels of the parking device.

Figure 18 is a similar view on the line 1818 of Figure 4.

Figure 18a is a detailed View of the bevel gear bearing.

Figure 19 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 1919 of Figure 8, showing the rocker arm of the transmitting rolls.

Figure 20 is a side elevation of the part shown in Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of a positive means for actuating the power transmitting roll levers.

' Figure 22 is a similar face view.

In illustrating my invention, I have chosen to show an electric motor as a power unit for driving the parking device, this being a convenient type of apparatus for the purposes.

I have not illustrated the various electrical connections for the motor, nor the details of the electrical apparatus and connections for the elevators which carry the parker and its automobiles (to be parked) to the have chosen to illustrate it as handling two cars, although obviously, the parker might be doubled in capa -ity by duplication of its parts, as illustrated herein.-

Obviously, provisionmust be made for entrance to and exist from the building and this is best illustrated in the type of building herein shown in Figure 1, where A, indicates the entrance and B, the exit.

As illustrated, there are three elevators C, D, E, wl11ch,of course, are suitably arranged to carry the r load from the ground floor ad jacent to the entrance A, to any of'the upper floors of the building. 1 Y

For each. elevatonthere is a parking unit F,

F F which parking unit runs within a guide way G, both at the entrance side and exit side of the elevators. vided a similar C, D, E.

There are also guide ways H, one on each side of the guide ways G. These also are carried on to the elevators and are arranged on opposite sides of the elevators respectively, at the entrance and exist sides! Each floor of the building is provided with similar guide ways both for the parking device and for the automobiles to be parked and these guide ways extend to the full length or breadth of the building, as the casemay be, on opposite sides of the elevators or elevator shafts.

Of course, the length of trackage or guide Ways largely determines the capacity of the parking space of the building.

' The parker F, is illustrated as having engaged the wheel of an automobile I, at one side and in its passage toward the elevator, corresponding engaging means may be pro- Jected to engage the Wheel of the automobile There is also pro engage the wheel oftheautomobiles'and guide way on the elevators transmit 'power thereto for rotating the wheels, thus carrying them forward onto the elevators. The elevators then rise to'the desired floor and the parker movesforward carrying the automobiles from the elevator The along the guide ways to a given position. parker is then disconnected from its driving position and may "be moved back and forth for-moving cars into the guide ways or it may be moved onto the elevator and carried to any desired floor, where it may pick up one or'a plurality of automobiles, rolling them to the elevator, to deliver them'to the ground floor in the guide ways at the .exit sideof' the building.

. Of course, the owner merely drives his car into the guide ways and on entering locks the car securely and it need never be unlocked or tampered with until it isdeliveredto him at the'eXit side of the building.

:The guide ways forthe parking devices may very conveniently be formed of angle iron and these angle irons also serve as a convenient guide for the tires of the automobiles. Of course, any part cular .form of trackage maybe selected to meet any given require-- ment of guiding'the automobiles along guide ways. 1 s 1 Of course,the matter of guide ways is one of selection, but there is some advantage in using the-angle irons shown and described, as they may be placed directly upon the structural steel of the buildings and the floors laid proofing. 1 e

The floor filling, aside from the. guideways.

. required or desired fashion .of fire carries no load. 5,

1 veloping the necessary power.

, In the-accompanying drawings, the automotive device for supplying the power for moving the automobiles is for convenience, termed a parker. It isof comparatively simple and sturdy construction and isillustrated as utilizing an electric motor for de Obviously, any form of power, as

be utilized and wouldfall within the scope of the invention. 7

The parker consists of a sturdy frame 1,

conveniently made of channel irons which forms a complete chassis'yfor supporting a motor P, which, for conven ence, is raised above the channel iron frame upon a motor stand P.

There is a driving axle 2, 3, adjacent to each end of the frame 1, which axles carrythe driving wheels 4, 4, and 5, 5.

The motor shaft is connected through 0011- i plings 6, 7, with extension shafts '8, 9, each of which bears a bevel pinion 10,11, meshing with bevel gears 12, 13.

Asthe reduction gears at each end of the parker are identical in arrangement, description isconfined to a single gear reduction.

1: i I 10k 111- stance, hydraulics or compresseda1r, might There is a casing 14, bolted to theframel and having a bearing 15, for the shaft 8. Withinthis casing is mounted the bevel gear 12, which is meshed with the bevel pinion 10. This gear 12, has its shaft, 16,provided with-a ball bearing 17, which is housed in the casing and clamped therein, as best illustrated in Figures 18,-and 18a.

1 Beyond the bearing and secured to the shaft 16, is a pinion .18, meshing with the gear 19;

upon a shaft 20, which shaft also bears a pinion 21, that in turn meshes with an'intermediate gear 22. The latter meshes withthe gear 23, which is secured to the shaft 2, and

drives the wheels4, 4. V .Thesewheels may be-of comparatively large diameter inasmuch as. theparker does not run under the. automobile, but runs alongside of it. Likewise, the gear parts and motor may be of. ample siae,*as they are not limited by the heighth of the-automobile to be parked. 1 :Of course, the gear transmission illustrated is merely exemplary, and any desired and eflicient drive may be interposed between the source of power P, and the axle shafts 2, 3.

Parallel-t0 each of the driving axles 2, 3,

are shafts 24, 25, which at their ends are supported in the longitudinal channel members of the frame 1. They serve as rocker shafts and at their center have a support 26, for

shafts 27, 28. "The'shafts 27, ,28, support power transmitting rolls are normallyfheld' toward each other by springs or other convenient'means 33, 34, and away from the wheels 4,5, of the parker These. springs 33, 34, are connected with rocker arm housings 36, within which the shafts 27, 28, and their rolls are carried. r I

These powertransmitting rolls may, togive greater traction indriving, be knurled or covered with rubber, cork or any othe'reliicien't material for preventing slippage. Incidentally, the wheels 4,5, are preferably so covered, as indicated in the drawings.

The spacing between the elements 29 and 31, and 30 and 32, is such that these power transmitting rolls may be projected fore and aft of an automobile tire without bringing them in contact with the driving wheels 4, 5, of the parker.

The rolls, are each provided with a groove 35, and. rocker arms 36. Within these grooves are clamped rings 37, having. pins 38, 39, which are engaged by forks 40,41, 42, 43, formed at the end of controlling levers 44,

45, 46, 47. These levers are pivoted to a moved as expeditiously as one may be carried frame partrof the parker as at 48, L9, 50, 51, and have extended arms 52, 53, 54, 55, engaging opposite sides of cams 56, 57.

The cams illustrated are substantially of elliptical form, cam 56, being shown in position to permit the rolls 29, 31, to be moved outward under the influence of springs 58, 59, while the cam 57, is in position to retract the rolls 30, 32. These cams, as illustrated, are shown as being controlled by levers 60, 61.

A modification of the cam arrangement is illustrated in Figures 21, 22, wherein the cams are made of box form and engage the ends of the levers 52, 53, 54., 55, so that the levers are positively moved in both directions of their throw and are not dependent upon springs for projecting them into driving position.

Throughout the drawings, the automobile tire is illustrated in dotted outline and it will be quite apparent that when the car is to be moved, a pair of rolls 29, 31, are projected on opposite sides of the tire.

As soon as the parker is moved by its motor one or the other of the power transmitting rolls is brought into contact with the tire and thereupon is forced backward against the corresponding wheel of the parker.

Thus, the power which drives the parker is transmitted through its wheels to the power transmitting roll which is in contact with the automobile tire and the roll then acts as the transmission device for rotating the Wheels of the automobiles. The direction of movement of the automobile is controlled by the direction of movement of the parker and ob- 'iously, will be rolled on its own tires backward or forward dependent upon which of the tire transmitting rolls 29, 31, (for instance) is brought into contact with the tire.

It is quite obvious that the automobile cannot overrun as it will be immediately stopped by the action of one of the power transmitting j rolls. In fact, it can only move as fast as the parker moves.

t will be quite apparent that the parker exerts, not only a direct pushing effect to over come the inertia of the automobile, but actually exerts a power drive for rotating the automobile wheels.

It is quite as apparent that two automobiles may be handled and rolled upon their tires, just as readily as one.

The power transmitting rolls, for instance, 29, 31, at one side of the parker may be brought into engagement with a tire of an automobile and although the second automobile on the opposite side is not in line with the power transmitting rolls, 30, 82, the parker may be moved along the guideway carrying with it one automobile until it is in position to pick up the second automobile on the opposite side, with the rolls 30, 32. Thereupon,

the two automobiles may be simultaneously forward and backward.

There is, therefore, an elasticity to the parker which, applicant believes, is new in that a single automobile or a plurality of automobiles may be handled simultaneously.

It will be noted that no strain whatever is put upon any part of-the automobile, as is the case where an under running parking device is employed. In such'event, the parker must reach up and grip some non rotary'portion of the automobile to be moved and this grip must be sufficient to insure a movement thereof. Furthermore, the automobile is never moved from its normal position of running 011 the ground surface. Therefore, no strains whatever, are placed upon the springs or other running gear or the chassis, to transport the automobile from one position to another.

It is convey-ed in an absolutely normal manner on its own tires over a smooth road sur-' face (namely the guideways).

The parkermust obviously be capable of movement in two directions, forward and backward and it follows, without further explanation, that the power driven unit for the parker is reversible. Obviously, the details and construction of the parker may be moditied to suit the exigencies of any particular requirement.

The drawings and explanations herein given show and describe a practical and operative form of device.

The elemental forms which will function to secure the results expressed may be modified to any degree without changing the/spiritor intent of the invention.

Any modification which involves the rearrangement of the elemental forms by which the driving power of the parker is directly translated through shiftable power transmitting devices to rotate the wheels of an automobile for moving it backward and forward, is contemplated as falling within the invention as disclosed by the specification and set forth in the claims.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for handling automobiles comprising a parker having a frame and sup-, porting wheels, means for driving said wheels, and power transmitting means operatively arranged to engage the wheels of the parker and the wheel of an automobile for rotating the latter.

2. An apparatus for handling automobiles comprising a parker having a frame and supporting wheels, means for driving said wheels, and power transmitting means operatively arranged to engage the wheels of the parker and the wheels of a plurality of automobiles for rotating the latter.

3. An apparatus for handlingautomobiles comprising a parker having a frame and supporting wheels, means driving said 7 wheels, and power transmitting means operatively arranged to alternatively engage front and rear wheels of the parker, as said or another, dependent upon the direction of movement of the parker.

4:. An apparatus for handling automoblles comprising a parker having a frame'and supporting wheels, means for drivingpsaid' Wheels, and power transmitting means at opposite sides of the parker, operatively arranged to alternately engage front and rear wheels of the parker, as said parker is moved I forward and backward, said power transmit ting means being adapted to engage the opposite sides of a plurality of automobile tires for rotating the latter in one direction or an other, dependent upon the direction of movement of the parker.

5. A parker for handling automobiles having a supporting frame and supporting wheels for the frame, means for driving said wheels and power driven transmitting devices for engaging and rotating the wheels of an automobile as the parker is driven forward orbackward toroll the automobile in forward or backward direction upon its wheel tires.

6. A parker for handling automobiles having a supporting frame 7 and supporting wheels for the frame, means for driving said wheels, and power driven transmitting devices for engaging and rotating the wheels of an automobile, at both sides of the parker, as the parker is driven forward or backward to roll the automobiles in forward or backward direction upon their wheel tires 7 A parker for handling automobiles hav ing a frame, supporting wheels for said frame, a motor supportedon the frame, a reduction gear between the motor and the wheels, power transmitting devices adjustable with reference to the wheels and movable into and out of driving position with reference to an automobile tire, said means providing a power transmission between the wheels,

ing position withreference to the automobile Wheel, said rolls deriving power from the wheels of the parker. V

i 9. A arker for handling automobiles having a rame, axles and supporting wheels 7 therefor, means for driving said axles and wheels, power transmitting rolls adjustable toward and away from the wheels and adjustable longitudinally of their axes, levers for moving the rolls in longitudinal direction and a camdevice for controlling the movement of the levers, said rolls, when projected, forming an intermediate power driving means between the wheels of the parker and the tire of an automobile, for rotating the latter. l I I 10. A parker for handling automobiles having a frame, axles and supporting wheels therefor, means for driving said axles and wheels, power transmitting rolls adjustable toward and away from the wheels and adjustable longitudinally of their axial lines,means for moving the rolls in longitudinal direction for. engagement and disengagement with an automobile wheel and means for imparting driving power to the rolls for rotating the automobile wheel; 7

. 11. A parker for handling automobiles having a frame, and driving wheels, 'a power unit for driving the wheels, adjustable power transmitting rolls adapted to be driven by the wheels and adapted to rotate an automo-t bile wheel, the inertia of the automobile providing a means for holding the power transmitting rolls in contact with the driving wheels. I V V 12. A parker having a frame, drivin wheels and a source of power for driving sai said parker being provided with adjustable power transmitting means for engaging the tires of a plurality of automobiles, said means deriving a rotary movement from the power driven wheels of the parker.

WILLIAM J. AITKEN.

parker wheels and the tire of an automobile for rotating the latter during the forward or backward movement of the parker.

8. A parker for handling automobiles having a frame and supporting wheels, a source of power on said parker for driving the wheels, a rocker shaft appurtenant to ,the forward and rear wheels of the parker, power transmitting rolls slidably mounted on said rocker shaft and normally out of contact with the wheels of the parker, means for moving said power transmitting rolls outwardly to engage the tire of an automobile wheel and means for moving said power transmitting rolls inwardly to disengage them from a driv- 

